Session #2 continued – After an extended rest the party returned to the first room and took the Von Jallach door where they came to a room with runes inlaid on the floor. Suddenly two swarms of needlefang drake rushed them (careful to go around the runes) and attacked. Lozigee (unwisely) tumbled through his comrades and landed on the runes, giving himself a pretty good jolt. So good, he got dropped. Groknak had to pull him off the runes and throw him back to the cleric.

In the adjacent room the group rescued Adronsius, a dwarven herbalist. He had been beaten badly by the orcs and was captured in Temel just after Sertanian entered town. He knows that Mirtala is still alive and he knows where Jalissa is as he saw here when he was brought up for interrogation the other day. He gives detailed directions to where she is being held.

The heroes followed his directions and backtracked to the room where they fought the magma claws and took a different exit. They entered a room filled with spider webs and found a handful of ettercaps. The heroes got off to a bad start and the webspinner immobilized most of them for the first two rounds, but eventually the heroes prevailed.

In one corner they found some gold and a Thundering Longbow (+1). In another corner they found the late Captain Kremmel.

Session #3 – From the ettercap room the heroes continues along with the directions that Adronsius gave them. The next room was two levels and in the first level the group fought two orc raiders and a guard drake. As the battle progressed, more orcs came down the stairs, only to meet their own doom. In one of the sarcophagi upstairs the group found Acrobat boots.

The next room was filled with dire rats and two sneaky gnome skulks. Once these obstacles were dealt with the Heroes were able to rescue the deranged Mirtala. After some convincing from the group, Mirtala finally settled down a bit.

Back through the ettercap room, the heroes descended into the lower level, and got into a scuffle with a handful of orc raiders, an Eye of Gruumsh and two spitting drakes. In the next room the group found the prisoner Jalissa, who immediately clung to her savior, Umberto. Also, she has a 16 charisma.

From here the group headed north to fight a room full of undead on a defiled mosaic. The next room contained a scrying pool, and the third room they discovered Thurann, the 8-year old boy from Cholnudon.

The next room was the Lords of Rivenroar room that was run by a Deathlock Wight and a boneshard skeleton. These were the undead that the party learned of before that Thar had captured the citizens to feed as a part of their agreement for using Rivenroar as a base camp.

The last room was Thar and a massive orc named Skullz. This epic battle went down to the end; Kregnok was dropped at one point as was Lozigee, but in the end, the Heroes of Rock Hammer Hold prevailed and slew the spiritual leader of the Broken Tusks.

In his dying breath, Thar had these cryptic words to say:

Quote :

“"Ha ha, humans you are too late. Karg marches with an orc army the size of legends!"”

In addition to a map of the region (marked with good ambush spots), and a map of Temel that included the secret entrance, also in Thar’s pocket was this letter:

Quote :

Brave Thar,

The Red Hand will rise again! The other remnants take great cheer in your recent attacks on commerce coming into the Blight that is the Silver Marches.

We’re particularly pleased with your ability to inspire a fighting spirit in others, whether they have true orc blood or merely wish they did. To be blunt, we think you should have many more soldiers under your command. Many, many more.

And recent events have rendered some remnants leaderless. With a bold strike on your part, the remnants would rally to the Broken Tusks you so proudly display.

As your bold stroke, do this; Attack the Blight that is Temel by our plan. Focus your efforts on their Temple of Helm, for it mocks the many hard-fought victories by the first Red Hand of Doom. Take from them the spoils of war they shamelessly hang on their walls and bring those relics back to Rivenroar.

Do this before the moon is next full. And with regard to your previous question, turning over captives to your unloving allies at Rivenroar is perfectly acceptable. War sometimes makes strange bedfellows, and we appreciate how you’ve united such disparate forces under your banner. Whatever prisoners you take from Temel you can give to the Wight.

Fight with valor of your ancestors, Thar. And keep your hands stained red with the blood of the weak!

I will visit you again next month, at a time of my choosing.

The Emissary

Found in this room was a ceremonial sword, a broken shield, and a battle standard. Thar was also wearing the gauntlets and a dragoncrest helm taken from the Temple of Helm in Temel.

Post Session Wrap-up – The heroes proceeded out of the depths of Castle Rivenroar to the first room, where they once again had to deal with the braziers on the tracks. Thurann tugged at the sleeve of Umberto and pointed to the center doors. “That old witchlady is down there.”

The heroes proceeded through the double doors and down the stairs to a large room filled with mushrooms. When someone would get close enough to them some would explode in a cloud of concealment, others would deal poison, and some would even emit a loud shrieking noise. This sure enough drew the attention of three drakes in the room. But the heroes were up to the task. After the battle the group noticed two holes in the ceiling, undoubtedly leading to the two holes in the hallway above.

The following room contained a magic circle and an old lady trapped inside. Lozigee made a great thievery roll and darted into the magic circle as it briefly paused and rescued the 6th and final prisoner of the Broken Tusks.